50Mystery

Here's the start of my list for the 50 States Mystery challenge (see my post on Goodreads challenges):
California (CA) Done for a Dime
Colorado (CO) The Bookman's Wake
District of Columbia (DC) Hell to Pay 
Florida (FL) Gumbo Limbo
Maryland (MD) Baltimore Blues 
Michigan (MI) Cold Day in Paradise
New Jersey (NJ) Bury the Bishop
New Mexico (NM) Tularosa
New York (NY) The First Deadly Sin
Oregon (OR) The Defense
Pennsylvania (PA) Moment of Truth 

52World

Here's the list for the Around the World in 52 Books challenge (see my post on Goodreads challenges):
Afghanistan: Bookseller of Kabul

Angola: Book of Chameleons

Arctic: Voyage of the Narwhal

Austria: Death in Vienna

Azerbaijan: Ali and Nino

Bosnia: Bridge on the Drina

Botswana: Tears of the Giraffe

Bulgaria: Night Soldiers

Chile: Easter Island

China: A Floating Life

Dominican Republic: Farming the Bones

Egypt: Serpent and Scorpion

England: Mistress of the Art of Death

France: The Forger

Germany: Effi Briest

India: Between Assassinations

Indonesia: The Earth of Mankind

Israel: The Attack

Italy: Stone Virgin

Jamaica: Wide Sargasso Sea

Kenya: Weep Not

Japan: Kafka on the Shore

Mexico: Savage Detectives

Morocco: Tenth Gift

New Zealand: Bone People

Nigeria: Arrows of the Rain

North Korea: Corpse in the Koryo

Persian Gulf: Cities of Salt

Portugal: Last Kabbalist of Lisbon

Romania: The Passport

Russia: The White Russian

Rwanda: A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali

Saudi Arabia: Eight Months on Ghazzah Street

South Africa: Bitter Fruit

South America: Bel Canto

Spain: Winter in Madrid

Sudan: Act of Faith

Sweden: Frozen Tracks

Trinidad: Bruised Hibiscus

Turkey: Black Book

Vietnam: Paradise of the Blind

Zimbabwe: Butterfly Burning

Thrillers set in prewar period

I've tried setting up versions of this list on Amazon and Goodreads and not gotten much traction with it. But I don't think it's because there's no interest in this sub-genre.

For me, the 20th century prior to the outbreak of World War II is already an exotic period. It is recognizably our modern world, but in some ways a more civilized version of it. It is in any case a time when real adventure -- not our leisure-time adventure excursions -- was still possible. The world was knit together but still had lots of open spaces. These are thrillers set in that period. They are not in any rank order. I'm just including one work per author, though generally many of their other works also fit into this category.

Obviously I want to include my own historical thriller in this list. I think it helps to provide a context for potential readers. If you like any of the books on this list, you will like The Grand Mirage.

I'll update with further additions. Please comment if you have a title to add, or any other comment.

1. Stamboul Train by Graham Greene
The master's take on the Orient Express.

2. The Grand Mirage by Darrell Delamaide
Adventure and intrigue on a caravan to Baghdad.

3. A Coffin for Dimitrios by Eric Ambler
A pioneer in the political thriller.

4. Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
Period atmosphere at its best.

5. Zoo Station by David Downing
Berlin between the wars.

6. Berlin Noir by Philip Kerr
Even grittier Berlin between the wars.

7. River of Darkness by Rennie Airth
A damaged World War I veteran investigates a gruesome murder.

8. Greenmantle by John Buchan
Date classic in the genre.

9. Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers
Still spellbinding tale of espionage in the North Sea tidal basin.

10. Pascali's Island by Barry Unsworth
Searing tale of one of the sultan's spies.

11. Imperial 109 by Richard Doyle
A whole book on the Pan Am clipper.

12. Ashenden, or The British Agent by W. Somerset Maugham
Spy story based on writer's own experience.